**FIRST EMAIL**/Looking for Beta Test Teams

[Andrew Schreiber]

Originally Posted by Jack Jones

I wonder about the need for an NDA. Will the beta test teams have a leg up on the rest of the field all the way up until kick-off? If it's not a major advantage, then why not make a full disclosure on the control system at the same time as the beta sites get it?

Many teams were unhappy with the way it went last year, mostly the ones who could not pay until late and got the controller along with their KoP. Their learning curve coincided with the build. There's a whole lot of difference between having the hardware, and knowing people who do!

Realize that the NDA may not mean they can't disclose anything but may mean they can't disclose portions of things. Additionally, this is a BETA, technically speaking this could remain unused this year should FIRST decide that the system is not ready.

Also, would you prefer a world where everyone was essentially beta testing a system during build? I would prefer teams that have resources to research stuff DO and then we can stand on their backs come build season. I have always made a rule that I never reinvent the wheel, if I can use someone else's research and build on it I think that is more useful than redoing what has already been done.